"There are various theories as to how insect life came to exist on
Newman's Planet, named for its American discoverer. Most suggest that
its seeds were somehow transported here from Earth, though there is
little agreement as to how, naturally or otherwise, this was
accomplished. Others state that it must have evolved here naturally.
But this theory runs into equal difficulty. For the insects of
Newman's world---and insects they are indeed, as like to our own
physiologically as one mammal is to another---resemble much too closely
specific genre already found on Earth.
"And yet there can be no denying that the four species known to exist
(interesting in itself, that there should be so few), date back in
their respective habitats roughly 95 million years. Fossil remains
have been found, and their location and carbon dating signaled back to
us. Unfortunately, no first-hand data is available, as the only two
exploration parties ever to brave the hostile environs did not return.
"But from what they were able to gather and send back, we are given a
picture both intriguing and disquieting. By far the most interesting
news comes from the last report of the British expedition, only hours
before all contact was lost. One of their young behavioral scientists,
concentrating on the 'Stoors' of the equatorial regions (large,
foraging creatures most nearly resembling the warrior ant,
approximately 1.5 meters in length), was able to observe a gathering of
several colonies around a single, great stone, possibly a meteorite, in
the center of a deep cloven valley. He reports that the various
groups, distinguished by dots and splotches of color on the head and
abdomen, continued to stream in from all directions for nearly two
hours, apparently taking no notice of his hovering cruiser. And when
they had swelled to perhaps five thousand, they locked forelegs
together into countless, concentric circles around the stone and began
to chant, though by rights they should have been able to make no such
sound. Mitchell Collins, the observer, reported that he was not sure
whether it was, in fact, a physical sound, or one that came to him
through his mind only. He further states that the precise movements
and ritualistic nature of the gathering suggested some kind of
primitive religious ceremony.
"This last observation, of course, remains purely subjective."
---Dr. Charles LeDoux, planetary biologist, to a meeting
of the United French Scientists Guild.
I
Naik Shannon had never heard of Newman's world, or if he had, the
memory lay buried too deeply. And at the moment, he had other things
on his mind. The survivors of the Marcum-Lauries colonies, his present
charge, were scattered and in disarray. His own ship was too badly
damaged to lend assistance; he was running with a price on his head;
and of his own forces perhaps a hundred still lived.
Shin, his second in command, had radioed that he was trying to gather
sufficient escort from the remnants of the fleet to take the civilian
ships to safety in Soviet Space. Where the others had turned in the
wake of the dismal defeat he could not guess. His head was pounding
and he felt old and though he wanted to it was hard to care. Never had
he felt so helpless.
After the death of the ore-planet the Canton assault had been swift and
overpowering. The Laurian wings had fought well enough, considering
their numbers and outdated equipment. But they were no match for the
grim machination thrown against them. He had seen almost at once how
the battle would go. But while there was any chance at all.....
The red-brown planet loomed closer. It had a somewhat ominous look:
the knotted lacing of deep-cut ravines, the jagged mountains, so
massive their outlines were visible even from here.
THEY ALL LOOK STARK AND ALIEN AT FIRST. But this one was something
peculiar, no denying. Almost it had an aura of strangeness. If he
hadn't been so desperately short of oxygen he might have kept
searching..... For a moment he had forgotten the Cantons.
Again he studied the star system readout on the ship's console,
switched to the more detailed graphic of Centaurus III, Newman's
Planet. Touching the fingerboard, he summoned all the relevant data
his computer possessed. The cursor darted back and forth across the
screen.